How to Say “Although” in Chinese (虽然……但是)
Chinese keeps both halves of “although.” 虽然 opens the fact you concede, and 但是 (or 可是) must still lead the second clause, even though English drops the “but.” (Subject) 虽然 + fact，但是 / 可是 + contrast (虽然今天很忙，但是我很开心, “although I’m busy today, I’m happy”). 虽然 can sit before or after the subject; 但是 and 可是 swap freely, with short forms 但 / 可.
Why this trips learners up
English lets “although” carry a sentence by itself: “Although it’s cold outside, it’s warm inside.” Chinese does not. That is the heart of how to say “although” in Chinese: you open with 虽然 (suīrán), and then you still need a “but” word to launch the second clause. The frame is (Subject) 虽然 + [fact]，但是 / 可是 + [contrast]: 虽然外面很冷，但是里面很暖和.
Both halves are required. To an English speaker the 但是 feels redundant, since “although… but…” sounds doubled up, but in Chinese leaving it out is the classic mistake. 虽然这个包很贵，但是我很喜欢 (“although this bag is expensive, I really like it”) needs the 但是; drop it and the sentence dangles.
但是 and 可是 are interchangeable here, with only a light register split: 可是 (short form 可) is a touch softer and more spoken, 但是 (short form 但) a touch more formal and the default in writing. You can also add 还是 (“still”) after the “but” for extra push: 虽然他不同意，但是我还是想试试 (“although he disagrees, I still want to try”).
虽然 is flexible about the subject. It can lead the clause (虽然这个手机便宜…) or follow the subject (这个手机虽然便宜…); both are natural. What it can’t do is trail at the end of its clause. And keep 虽然 for a real fact you’re conceding, not a hypothetical: “if it rains” is 如果, not 虽然.
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
suīrán 虽然 Pattern jīntiān 今天 Time hěn 很 Adverb máng 忙 Adjective dànshì 但是 Pattern wǒ 我 Subject hěn 很 Adverb kāixīn 开心 Adjective
Although I’m busy today, I’m very happy. (Basic 虽然…但是…, adjective contrast.)
suīrán 虽然 Pattern zhè jiā cāntīng 这家餐厅 Subject bú 不 Negation dà 大 Adjective kěshì 可是 Pattern hěn 很 Adverb yǒumíng 有名 Adjective
Although this restaurant isn’t big, it’s very famous. (可是 in place of 但是, freely interchangeable.)
zhège shǒujī 这个手机 Subject suīrán 虽然 Pattern piányi 便宜 Adjective dànshì 但是 Pattern hěn 很 Adverb hǎoyòng 好用 Adjective
Although this phone is cheap, it works really well. (虽然 sitting after the subject: 这个手机虽然…)
suīrán 虽然 Pattern tā 他 Subject bù 不 Negation tóngyì 同意 Verb dànshì 但是 Pattern wǒ 我 Subject háishì 还是 Adverb xiǎng 想 Function word shìshi 试试 Verb
Although he doesn’t agree, I still want to give it a try. (但是 + 还是 for “still” emphasis.)
suīrán 虽然 Pattern wàimiàn 外面 Place hěn 很 Adverb chǎo 吵 Adjective dànshì 但是 Pattern háizi 孩子 Subject shuì 睡 Verb de 得 Function word hěn 很 Adverb hǎo 好 Adjective
Although it’s noisy outside, the child sleeps well. (Two different subjects across the comma.)
suīrán 虽然 Pattern jiàgé 价格 Subject bù 不 Negation dī 低 Adjective dàn 但 Pattern zhìliàng 质量 Subject zhēnde 真的 Adverb hěn 很 Adverb hǎo 好 Adjective
Although the price isn’t low, the quality really is good. (Clipped 但 in place of 但是, common in writing.)
suīrán 虽然 Pattern zhè cì kǎoshì 这次考试 Subject hěn 很 Adverb nán 难 Adjective dànshì 但是 Pattern dàbùfen 大部分 Adjective tóngxué 同学 Subject dōu 都 Adverb tōngguò 通过 Verb le 了 Function word
Although this exam was hard, most of the students passed. (A longer, more formal contrast.)
suīrán 虽然 Pattern wǒmen 我们 Subject rènshi 认识 Verb de 的 Function word shíjiān 时间 Subject bù 不 Negation cháng 长 Adjective dànshì 但是 Pattern yǐjīng 已经 Adverb chéng 成 Verb le 了 Function word hǎo péngyou 好朋友 Object
Although we haven’t known each other long, we’ve already become good friends. (虽然 over a 的 clause.)
Common mistakes
Why it happens: Chinese keeps the “but.” English drops it (“although it’s expensive, I like it”), but Chinese needs 但是 / 可是 to lead the second clause: 虽然这个包很贵，但是我很喜欢, never with the 但是 left out.
Why it happens: 虽然 opens its clause; it can’t trail at the end. Put it before the fact (either before or after the subject): 他虽然很累，但是还在工作, not 他很累虽然.
Why it happens: 虽然 concedes a REAL fact you accept as true. For a hypothetical “if,” use 如果: 如果明天下雨，我们就不去 (“if it rains tomorrow, we won’t go”), not 虽然明天下雨.
Compare & contrast
| 虽然…但是… = concession (“although…, but…”) | 因为…所以… = cause (“because…, so…”) | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 虽然很贵，但是我还是买了。suīrán hěn guì, dànshì wǒ háishì mǎi le. | 因为很贵，所以我没买。yīnwèi hěn guì, suǒyǐ wǒ méi mǎi. | 虽然很贵，但是我还是买了 concedes the price and buys anyway (“although it’s pricey, I bought it”). 因为很贵，所以我没买 reasons from it (“because it’s pricey, I didn’t buy it”). Same fact, opposite move. |
| 虽然下雨，但是我们出门了。suīrán xiàyǔ, dànshì wǒmen chūmén le. | 因为下雨，所以我们没出门。yīnwèi xiàyǔ, suǒyǐ wǒmen méi chūmén. | 虽然下雨，但是我们出门了 (“although it rained, we went out”) pushes through; 因为下雨，所以我们没出门 (“because it rained, we stayed in”) follows the cause to its result. |
Try it yourself
Say “Although this book is thick, it’s very interesting.” Use 虽然…但是…: 虽然这本书很厚，但是很有意思。
Related patterns
Quick reference card
How to Say “Although” in Chinese (虽然……但是) grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.